Alabama executes man for 1997 gas station murder

In Alabama, Geoffrey Todd West was executed on September 26, 2025, for the capital murder of Margaret Parrish Berry, which occurred during a gas station robbery on March 28, 1997. West, 50, had been convicted of the intentional killing of Berry, a 33-year-old mother of two. He shot her execution-style while she was lying on the floor behind the counter. His death sentence had been previously imposed by a jury that voted 10-2 in favor of capital punishment, a decision subsequently upheld by the judge due to the severity of the crime. The execution utilized nitrogen gas, which allows for a death that proponents argue is less painful than other methods. The execution was met with mixed sentiments, especially from Berry's son, Will Berry, who advocated for clemency and expressed forgiveness for West. He made it clear that he did not wish for West to die, emphasizing that vengeance does not belong to the state. Despite these appeals, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey maintained that her duty was to uphold the law, which mandates death as punishment for serious crimes like West’s. She reiterated that what West did was a cowardly act, leaving her no choice as governor but to carry out the death sentence. Prior to the execution, West expressed profound regret for his actions and communicated his remorse in a final statement. He acknowledged the pain his actions caused Berry’s family and sought forgiveness from them. He described his life since the incident as a struggle to comprehend his former self and the decisions that led him to commit such a violent crime. He stated being baptized in the Catholic Church earlier that year, indicating he found peace in his faith as he faced his fate. Ultimately, the execution marks a significant case in the ongoing national conversation regarding the death penalty. Alabama has been experimenting with different methods of execution, adopting nitrogen gas as an execution method in 2018, and this was the first time the method was applied in a real execution. Supporters of nitrogen gas claim it offers a more humane alternative, whereas opponents raise ethical concerns about the death penalty itself. West's execution highlights the complexities and moral dilemmas surrounding capital punishment in the United States.